Hurricane Olaf forms in the eastern Pacific

This image obtained from NASA shows Tropical Storm Olaf (C) in the eastern Pacific far from land and could become a hurricane on October 18, 2015, US forecasters said

PHOTO: AFP

MIAMI - Hurricane Olaf has formed far offshore in the eastern Pacific, US forecasters said Sunday.

The storm is currently located some 1,725 miles (2,780 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center said.

Olaf has the potential to become a major hurricane on Monday, but no coastal watches or warnings are currently in effect, according to the Miami-based NHC.

On its current trajectory, Olaf - the 11th hurricane of the eastern Pacific season - would stay away from land and out over open water in the coming days, it said.

Olaf is moving west at about 9 miles per hour and is expected to turn to the west-northwest on Monday.